President allows transfer of defence land in Chandigarh for shorter route to international airport

Saurabh Malik

Chandigarh, April 11

The move to provide an alternative route to the Chandigarh airport has trudged ahead with the President of India granting working permission to the Union Territory for permanent transfer of defence land at the airport.

The Ministry of Defence has already sent a communication to the Chief of Air Staff and the Director-General Defence Estates on grant of working permission to the international airport for the construction of the alternative route and the no-objection certificate to construct the road within 100 metres from defence boundary.

The communication said the Chief of Air Staff had been directed to convey to the UT the President of India’s sanction for grant of working permission for permanent transfer of defence land measuring 0.982 acres on payment of cash compensation.

It added a separate Board of Officers would be convened. It would, among other things, ascertain the exact area, survey number, demarcation of land, cost, modalities of transfer, etc., besides security and safety measures.

“The defence land shall be used only for the work of which working permission is being granted and for no other purpose. Infrastructure damaged/demolished of any nature on the said defence land to be re-constructed by the indenting agency,” it added.

The Air Headquarters had earlier given “in principle” its approval to the Union Ministry of Defence. Senior counsel Arun Gosain had on the previous date of hearing placed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court a status report by way of an affidavit by Air Cmde KS Lamba, posted as Air Officer Commanding, l2 Wing, Air Force Station, Chandigarh.

The report on behalf of the respondents — Union of India and the Indian Air Force — stated: “It is intimated the Air HQ has given ‘in principle’ approval to the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, for the proposal of UT regarding construction of a new airport road of the UT Administration, Chandigarh. The draft working permission for the subject proposal is under vetting at Air HQs, the same will be forwarded to the Ministry of Defence and the working permission will be issued by the Ministry of Defence after the same is vetted by HQ Directorate-General Defence Estates (DGDE).”

The High Court was earlier told the UT Administration had proposed two alternative routes to bring the airport closer. Appearing before the Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha and Justice Arun Palli, senior counsel Chetan Mittal, on the behalf of the airport, pointed out the proposed alternative routes would virtually reduce the distance by over 7 km from the existing one. He also told the Bench one of proposals was principally agreed upon after deliberations with all stakeholders. But Punjab unnecessarily brought out security concerns and traffic problems, which was in the domain of the ministry concerned.

Will reduce distance by 7 km

• UT has sought a shorter route starting near Sector 48 i.e. from T-point intersection of Vikas Marg and Purv Marg
• It had proposed two options before HC — building road with underpass or sans underpass parallel to airport boundary wall
• UT wants underpass option as it is straighter and shorter; residents currently have to travel 11 km via Mohali to reach airport
• 0.982 acres to be given to Admn
• MoD sent communication to Chief of Air Staff and Director-General Defence Estates on grant of working permission by Prez to alternative route for airport
• Chief of Air Staff directed to convey to UT Administration the President’s approval for transfer of 0.982 acres of defence land on payment of cash
• Land will be used solely for the work allowed; indenting agency to rebuild infra in case of any damage/demolition, it says
• Move comes after the Air Headquarters gave in-principle approval to the Union Ministry of Defence for alternative route
• Deliberations were earlier held among stakeholders UT, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh International Airport Limited and Indian Air Force

Board to work out modalities

A Board of Officers will now be convened to ascertain area, survey number, demarcation, cost, transfer modalities, security and safety measures